By Donald Kiirya in Jinja

Anti-riot Police in Jinja on Tuesday fired teargas and rubber bullets in the air to disperse angry workers at Nile Agro Industries Limited.

The over 500 workers at the Jinja-based cooking oil and soap Industry who started with a sit down strike later turned violent, forcing police to fire tear gas to disperse them.

Police was under the command of Jonathan Musinguzi, the Jinja district Police Commander, who was compelled to intervene into the matter when the workers blocked the road leading to Walukuba and threw stones at vehicles which were being driven by Indian nationals.

Police battled them for close to thirty minutes as some were seen scampering for dear life and reaching out for water to wash their faces from the tear-gas irritation.

The workers rioted after the factory management pinned up notices showing changes in dates they are expected to get their salary advances without consulting them.

Three notices were pinned and one read, “With effect from today, mid-month salary advance will be paid on the 20^th of every month and monthly salary on the 5th of every month.”

“The second one read: “With effect from 16/4/2012, salary will be calculated purely on the basis of electronic punching system. Anyone who does not punch his card will be treated absent for that day.” Read more…